More and more experts are realizing that there is a clear link between mental illness and addiction. Even in this year’s US presidential election, some candidates are running campaigns that promise to help those who are addicted by getting them the mental health care that they need, rather than simply incarcerating them. So it’s clear that the tide is shifting in terms of how people view others who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
What’s a Dual Diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis occurs when someone has both a mental health issue and a substance abuse problem. Many facilities, such as Beachway, are doing their best to help these people. In the meantime, you can learn more about the link between mental illness and addiction so you can help a friend or family member, or even yourself, get the help necessary to get better.
Oftentimes, the mental health issue is anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression. These issues make someone feel helpless and unable to make clear decisions, so they are more vulnerable to drugs and alcohol, which promise to make them feel better and forget about their troubles, at least temporarily.
The Statistics
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, also referred to as NBER, there is a definite link between the addiction to substances and the occurrence mental illness. 40% of cigarettes, 44% of cocaine, and 38% of alcohol, as a few examples, are consumed by those with mental health disorders.
A Way to Self-Medicate
When people do suffer with dual diagnosis, they often admit that their addiction to a substance is a means for them to try to medicate themselves, even though this self-medicating process actually does more harm than good, only masks symptoms of distress temporarily, and makes the problem worse in the long run.
For example, someone who’s depressed might turn to the use of marijuana in order to numb painful feelings. Someone who suffers with social anxiety may feel the need to drink a lot of alcohol in order to relax and feel comfortable when they’re involved in social situations. And someone who suffers from panic attacks might become addicted to prescription drugs like Valium or Xanax.
How to Make a Diagnosis
If you or someone you know suffers with addiction, consider the fact that the addiction may, in fact, be the result of an underlying mental health issue. In order to pinpoint the mental health issue that’s causing the addiction, you’ll need to look at other symptoms aside from the addictive behavior.
These symptoms might include feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, a loss of interest in activities, weight changes, changes in appetite, extreme irritability contrasted by hyperactivity or euphoria, excessive worry and tension, restlessness, insomnia or changes in sleep, trouble concentrating, a lack of energy, and more.
In the end, a doctor will need to provide an accurate diagnosis of the mental disorder that’s linked to a person’s substance abuse and addiction. However, once this diagnosis has been made, that person can get the treatment they need by focusing on alleviating the mental health issue that lies at the root of the addiction problem.
